Passport application fees rising Tuesday

The U.S. State Department is increasing its passport application fees on Tuesday.

The fees for people 16 and older will increase from $100 to $135 and for children 15 and younger, from $85 to $105.

For a passport card, the fees will increase from $45 for people 16 and older to $55. For children 15 and younger, the fee will increase from $35 to $40.

The passport card cannot be used for air travel. The card has the same validity period as a passport book: 10 years for an adult, 5 years for children 15 and younger.

The Post Office recommends bringing the following items to help your passport application process go smoothly:

• Bring proper proof of American citizenship. This must be either: a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; a previous U.S. passport; a certificate of citizenship; or a naturalization certificate. (Note: a hospital-issued birth certificate alone is not acceptable.)

• Bring proof of identity. This must be either: A previous U.S. passport; a naturalization certificate; a certificate of citizenship; or a current valid driver's license, government ID or military photo ID.

• The passport application requires two recent identical photographs. If you don't have photos, photo services are available for $15 for each application payable to the Post Office

• To save time, you can download a passport application at usps.com/pass

port and complete it beforehand. Passport applications must be made in person and cannot be made online.

For more information go to www.usps.com/passport or call 1-800-275-8777.